Spring buyers have few homes to choose from Last week we saw mortgage rates tick upwards again to two-month highs, but buyer demand continues to be strong. While rates above 6.5% keep some out of the market, other buyers are competing vigorously for the few homes available. While inventory levels are low across the country as sellers resist listing their […]
house hunting
Strong jobs report, slowing home price growth
Jobs numbers remain strong, home price growth slows Mortgage rates rose again on a weekly basis, but we saw some improvement towards the end of this week. This comes on the heels of a February jobs report that was strong, but cooler than January’s report, which stoked greater concern around inflation. While small, the rate improvement is encouraging for buyers […]
Mortgage rate fluctuation return, but buyers remain active
Rates were volatile this week as the market adjusted to a range of mixed signals. The 1-2 punch of a lower Fed interest rate hike and strong jobs data sent rates back up this week, following a month of steady downward movement. This is driven to some extent by uncertainty around inflation – while the […]
Looking ahead to 2023
Looking ahead to 2023. What homebuyers should know as 2022 comes to a close.
Lower rates at last?
Inflation shows some improvement, but how does it impact homebuyers?
Where are home prices headed?
Experts look ahead to 2023, but conditions are tough to predict Heading towards the end of the year, we’re seeing a lot of discussion around home prices, along with projections on where they may be headed in the coming months. The National Association of Realtors’ Chief Economist, Lawrence Yun, believes that prices will remain relatively […]
The Morty Report: Welcome Aboard
March 25, 2022. I’ll share my take on what’s happening in homebuying. My goal is to cut through the noise and share takeaways to help you to make informed decisions.
How to Get a Mortgage Pre-Approval
House hunting may be one of the most enjoyable parts of buying a home. However, you might find that you have even more fun when you go the extra mile and get pre-approved for a mortgage first. Getting a pre-approval may help you feel more confident going into the home buying process because you’ll know […]
These Paint Colors Can Add Thousands to a Home’s Pricetag
Hoping to add a few dollars to the selling price of your current home? Then it might be time to break out the rollers, brushes, and painter’s tape. According to a recent study by the folks at Zillow, painting your front door a particular color can increase your home’s selling price by more than $6,000. […]
Your Final Walkthrough: What to Look For and When to Put on the Brakes
You’re almost there, future homeowner! You’ve made a successful offer and sorted out your financing. Your future home appraised well, and it cleared a title search. Now, it’s time for your final walkthrough: one last look around before you officially close this deal. The point of a final walkthrough is to check that the home […]
Wrapping Up Your Home Search This Winter
The weather outside may be frightful. But if you’re ready to buy a home now, there are plenty of excellent reasons to start your home search this winter, and not to delay your home search until the weather warms up. In the U.S., starter home inventory peaks in the last few months of the year, […]
8 Home Amenities Buyers Should Look For In 2022
If you are considering purchasing a home in 2022, you are undoubtedly dreaming of features that are important to you. As more Millennial buyers move into the market and seek out their first space, the housing market is experiencing a shift in demands and expectations in home features. From buyers focusing on green and energy-efficient […]
When It Comes to Buying a Home, Pets Matter
About 61% of American households have pets. Last year, American pet owners spent nearly 70 billion dollars on goods and services for their pets. If you’ve got a pet, chances are good that you consider your pet an important part of your family. So it’s not surprising that when it comes time to make home […]
8 Things You Should Know About Making an Offer on a Home
It’s one thing to idly scroll through online house listings. It’s something else entirely to make a real offer to buy a home, even now when the purchase process has taken on an entirely new form combining online shopping, social distancing open houses, and video consultations with realtors and mortgage providers. Making an offer on […]
Buying a Home as a Freelancer
More than 57 million Americans earned at least some of their income freelancing last year, including 47% of Millennial workers. If you’re one of the millions of workers who won’t be getting a W-2 from a traditional employer next year, we’ve got good news. Getting a mortgage and buying a home without a traditional salaried […]
Thinking About Buying an Older Home? Four Things to Consider First
New home construction has picked up in some parts of the country. But currently, more than 50% of American homeowners live in homes built before 1980. In the Northeast and the Midwest, the age of the average home is even higher. The average owner-occupied home in Washington, DC is 75 years old. For new and […]
3 Steps For Buying Your First Home in a Competitive Market
The refrain has been the same now for several years: In most American towns and cities, there are more would-be homebuyers than there are homes on the market. And the competition for homes feels especially fierce as the millennial demographic – who account for 43% of all homebuyers in 2022 – have “aged into the […]
Getting a Mortgage for New Construction
Maybe you have a clear vision of your dream home: the very latest in energy efficiency! Shiny new granite countertops in just the right color! Or maybe you live someplace where the existing housing stock just isn’t sufficient to meet the demands of your rapidly growing community. In plenty of places in the country, buying […]
Buying a Home Together as an Unmarried Couple
While most homebuyers are married couples, about 15% of young homebuyers in the United States are unmarried couples purchasing a home together. In metro areas with hot housing markets like Tampa, Portland, and Washington, D.C, that number is even higher. With housing prices on the high side and mortgage interest rates at record lows, it […]
Getting Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Will Save You Hassle and Heartache
You wouldn’t go to the grocery store without bringing your wallet. And for major purchases like home appliances or furniture, you’d make sure you had enough money (or credit) to cover the cost of that new dishwasher or sofa before heading to the showroom. But when it comes to buying a home, tons of would-be […]